Wat Dam Nak

While in Cambodia, I will be taking classes at the Center for Khmer Studies (CKS) which is located at Wat Damnak, a monastery in Siem Reap. The monks there teach schools to young children and run many programs to help improve the state of education and hunger among the children of Siem Reap. The monastery has a website: http://www.watdamnak.org/ and on their website they have the main tenets of their programs stated. I think these are ideas that people should live by because they help you figure out wo you really are on your own without someone telling you what to believe.

• "Do not accept anything simply because it had been said by your teachers"
• "Do not accept anything simply because it had been taught and written in your sacred books (religious texts)"
• "Do not accept anything simply because it had been believed by many"
• "Do not accept anything simply because it had been handed down by your ancestors"
• "Do not accept anything simply because it seems acceptable or possible etc"
• "Believe and accept only according to what will enable you to see truth face to face, self-confidence and when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome, good, to be moral, be conductive to well-being and true happiness, or leading to true happiness etc" The Buddha said.
• "Do not be a slave of Religion!"
• "Man is not for Religion, but religion is for man!"
• "See Other as Yourself"
• "Make a world smile because of your presence"
• "May all be happy, peaceful and friendly"